The 4.8 kilometer Individual Time Trial Prologue kicked off the 2001 Tour de Toona. This rolling course is an elongated version of the Criterium Stage held later in the race. The course, however, adds several rollers and corners before bringing the riders back onto the Criterium course located in Downtown Altoona, Pennsylvania. Geneviève Jeanson (Rona) posted the fastest time of the day, completing the course in 5:39. Lyne Bessette (Saturn) had the 2nd fastest time of the night, only two one hundredths of a second faster than AutoTrader.com's Katrina Berger. The entire list of results was not available at the time of this report. .

John Wordin, the director of the Mercury road team, has announced that a final deal to merge with the French La Francaise des Jeux team is imminent. After Greg Lemond and his backing sponsor Viatel pulled out (Lemond due to bike sponsorship conflicts with existing Mercury sponsor Fuji, and Viatel because the company is in financial difficulties), things did not look good - particularly when Mercury was left off the Tour de France roster.

The merger (assuming it is finalized) will help two teams that were struggling on their own. According to Wordin the agreement is due to be completed within the next day or two, opening the way for a combined team to compete in the Vuelta a Espana.